Run date: May 13, 2026
Criteria: AI companies that raised < $15M in the last 12 months (May 2025 – May 2026)
Note: Compiled from public press releases, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Crunchbase, EU-Startups, Tech.eu, and other funding trackers. LinkedIn URLs for founders are best-guess matches from public profiles aligning with the founder's name and current role — verify each before outreach. This run focuses on companies not covered in Runs 1–5.
1. Bone AI (South Korea / US) – $12M Seed
- Date: November 2025
- HQ: Dual HQ — Seoul, South Korea and Palo Alto, CA
- What they do: Defense-tech company building next-generation autonomous air (UAVs), ground (UGVs), and marine (USVs) vehicles for defense and government clients. Focuses on B2G contracts. Already pulled in $3M in revenue in its first year and landed a seven-figure B2G contract.
- Investors: Third Prime (lead), Kolon Group (South Korean strategic investor). Founder DK Lee personally committed ~$1.5M (over 10% of the round).
- Founders:
- Company links:
- News coverage:
2. Series (US) – $5.1M Pre-seed
- Date: April 2026
- HQ: New Haven, CT (Yale)
- What they do: AI-powered social networking platform that lives entirely inside iMessage. Users text a phone number (Series AI), describe who they want to meet, and Series sends back carousels of 10 swipeable posts ("shares") from other matching users. Reports 750+ college campuses with 82% Day-30 retention.
- Investors: Pear VC, Iqram Magdon-Ismail (Venmo co-founder), Steve Huffman (Reddit CEO), Edward Tian (GPTZero founder).
- Founders:
- Company links: